World

On August 10, a Beijing court dismissed Zhou Xiaoxuan's appeal after she accused a prominent state television presenter of sexual harassment. Because it inspired additional women to come forward and publicly disclose their own experiences with sexual harassment, the case was regarded as a turning point for the #MeToo movement in China. The influence spread beyond the internet and sparked group actions offline as well. Numerous women gathered outside the courthouse to support Zhou at her first trial in 2021, and the police remained silent. However, at the same time, the debate of the case was controlled on social media, and only a few media outlets were permitted to present a short story in keeping with the official line about the case, which illustrates the growing nervousness over the...

BEIRUT (AP) — Forty years since Hezbollah was founded at the height of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, the group has morphed from a ragtag organization to the largest and most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East. The Iranian-armed and funded Hezbollah, which has marked the anniversary with ceremonies in its strongholds in recent weeks, dominates Lebanon’s politics and plays an instrumental role in spreading Tehran’s influence throughout the Arab world. But the Shiite powerhouse, once praised around the Arab world for unrelentingly standing against Israel, faces deep criticism on multiple fronts. At home in Lebanon, a significant part of the population opposes its grip on power and accuses it of using the threat of force to prevent change. Across the region, many resent it

NEW DELHI (AP) — Just hours before news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death spread, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a fiery speech urging India to shed its colonial ties in a ceremony to rename a boulevard that once honored King George V. Rajpath, formerly called Kingsway, was a “symbol of slavery” under the British Raj, he said. Instead, under the newly named Kartavya Path that leads to the iconic India Gate, “a new history has been created,” Modi beamed. His speech last Thursday was the latest in a concerted drive to purge India of its colonial relics. It was also a clear sign that the country, once the largest of Britain’s colonies that endured two centuries of imperial rule, has moved on. The renovated avenue now boasts a black granite statue of Indian freedom fighter Subhas Chandr

Blame game resumes over unrest The burned shelves of a fire-gutted convenience store - symbol of capitalism and destroyer of the local economy according to the BRN - in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat. (Photo: Wadao Harai) The recent bombing and arson attacks at 17 locations in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat may have been motivated by the Thai peace negotiators' refusal to let leading figures in the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement set foot in Thailand and meet residents, according to an analyst. The coordinated attacks on Aug 15 and 17 renewed fears of security violence in the far South as the BRN accepted responsibility for the bombing and setting fire to the locations, mostly convenience stores. One man was killed. On its Facebook page called BRN Barisan Revolus...

LHH eyes B100m funds to fuel expansion Mr Watchai said the group has two decades of experience in the horoscope content business. Samart Digital Plc (SDC), a subsidiary of SET-listed tech and ICT solution provider Samart Corporation, is gearing up for a full-scale astrological business to cash in on fortune telling and belief-related commerce seen to have high potential in Thailand and around Asean. The business is currently operated by Lucky Heng Heng Co (LHH), which was established by SDC. LHH expects to expand its service to other countries, such as Laos and Cambodia, in the third year of its operation. The company now stands ready to provide live horoscopes, physiognomy, feng shui, auspicious dates and time finding, as well as merit-related services in collaboration with partners....

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jonathan India drove in Spencer Steer from third base with a game-ending chopper against Colorado’s five-man infield, sending the Cincinnati Reds past the Rockies 3-2 on Friday night. Steer, who hit his first career home run in the fifth in his major league debut, led off the ninth with a double against Alex Colomé (2-7) and went to third on a one-out wild pitch. Jake Fraley was intentionally walked and took second on fielder’s indifference. The Rockies moved into the stacked infield with three fielders on the left side. India hit a bouncer up the middle that shifted center fielder Garrett Hampson caught on the grass in front of second base, but he had no play on Steer. India was credited with a single. It was the third time in the last two games the Reds faced five-ma

Message on the 8th Constitution Day & National Day of Nepal Nepal celebrates the 8th Constitution Day and National Day today. On this happy occasion, I would like to extend greetings and felicitations to all fellow citizens living in Thailand and the accredited countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam. The Constitution of Nepal was promulgated on 20 September 2015. The promulgation of the constitution not only ended a decade long political transition but also the struggle of the Nepali people for a democratic, inclusive and representative political system in the country. Like other countries of the world, Nepal also faced the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. We express sincere thanks to the governments and peoples of Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam for their solidari...

A mobile phone user scans a QR code while using the government's Khon La Khrueng co-payment scheme. (Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri) The Bank of Thailand plans to upgrade the country's payment system standard to stabilise financial services and prevent digital banking glitches. The central bank expects to implement the upgraded standard for payment systems in the fourth quarter of this year, said Siritida Panomwan Na Ayudhya, the central bank's assistant governor for payment systems policy and financial technology group. She said the move would improve the banking industry's payment system and protect consumers from financial risk. The standard should also help stabilise the payment system and prevent glitches with financial transactions, especially on digital platforms, said Ms Siritida. ...

Inside 'Taiwan Eco-Island'. (Photo: Thana Boonlert) Many months ago, I took up a forsaken hobby. I drew and painted an adaptation of my childhood cartoon. A rough sketch in watercolour smudge is a reward in itself, but it opens up new possibilities. I have just discovered an inspiring creative pursuit. Paper art can provide a much-needed refuge from distraction. It was the most thoughtful activity. There were only me, two curators and paper crafts. Held under the theme of "Taiwan Eco-Island", an exhibition is showcasing over 70 pieces of artwork by two Taiwanese artists -- Hsin-Fu Hung and Ching-Yao Liang -- this month at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. It is a collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECO). "Paper is an important material of human civ...

Hong Kong 'to tighten rules' for issuing provisional vaccine passes to travellers Travellers queue up for shuttle bus to quarantine hotels at Hong Kong International Airport, amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, in Hong Kong on Aug 1, 2022. (Reuters photo) HONG KONG: Health authorities will tighten rules on issuing travellers provisional vaccine passes to enter most premises in a bid to plug any loopholes in Hong Kong's policies to combat the coronavirus, the Post has learned. "The authorities are now considering raising the threshold for getting a temporary vaccine pass given the change of circumstances," a government source on Tuesday said. Authorities were urged to update their policy after a woman from mainland China recently caused a stir on social media when she posted she coul...